Centrifugal casting machine



Sept. 4, 1928.

C. P. SHOUDY CENTRIFUGAL CASTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 1, 1927 Inventor Allorncy Patented Sept. 4, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHESTER P. SHOUDY, 0F SPOKANE, WASHINGTON, ASSIGNOR TO SHOUDY MANUFAC-TURING AND DEVELOPING COMPANY, OF SPOKANE, WASHINGTON, A CORPORA- TION.

CENTRIFUGAL CASTING MACHINE.

Application filed August 1, 1927. Serial No. 209,683.

My present invention relates to improvements in centrifugal castingmachines which while adapted for various uses, are. especially designedfor the purpose'of casting dental inlays, and similar articles.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a castingmachine of this character by means of which the casting may quickly andaccurately be made and in which the moltenmetal is compactly arranged.

A spring motor is combined for use with the rotating parts of thecasting machine, and means are provided for insuring facility in themanipulation of the device in order that efficiency and accuracy may besecured.

The invention consists in certain novel combinations and arrangements ofparts wherein the above objects are accomplished. as hereinafter morespecifically set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, I have illustrated one complete example ofthe physical embodiment of my invention wherein the parts are combinedand arranged ac cording to the best mode I have so far devised for thepractical application of the principles of my invention.

a Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a dental casting machineconstructed according to my invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in elevation at the front of the machine;

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view" of the spring motor at line 3-3 ofFig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional View showing the detent for holding therotary part of the machine;

Fig- 5 is a longitudinal sectional view at line 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig 6 is a detail sectional view of the ratchet device used inconnection with the spring winding mechanism; and

Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view through the mold, at line 77 ofFig. 2.

In carrying out my invention, I preferably utilize a stand as 1 having abase 2 upon which is supported the motor casing 3 and the motor shaft 4is journaled in this casing. On the motor shaft outside of the casing isclamped a split block 5 in which a screw bar (3 is threaded, and acounter-weight 7 is threaded on the screw bar. clamp nut 8 is used torigidly connect the screw bar with the block, and it will be apparentthat the counterweight is employed on the shaft for counterbalaneing therotary parts of the invention.

The block 5 also has an arm 9 secured thereto by means of a reducedthreaded extension 10, and clamp nut 11. The arm 9 is arranged at theopposite side of the shaft 4 from the screw bar 6, and .the'arm andscrew bar are arranged in parallel planes as shown in Fig. 2.

At the free end of the arm 9, which is squared, is carried the mold 10which is fashioned with an outer end plate 11 and a yoke 12, the lattersecured to the arm 9 by screws or bolts as 13. The investment materialin the mold is provided with the usual cavity 14. for the reception ofthe molten metal as gold indicated by the latter G in Fig. 5, and thiscavity is fashioned in usual manner with wax that is subsequently meltedprior to the casting operation.

The crucible 15 upon which the gold 9 is melted, as by a torch, isprovided with a spout 16 that is adapted to be pushed into the sprue ofthe mold when the pouring operation is to be carried out.

The crucible is supported upon a slidable carrier 17, and the carrier isslidabl supported upon the arm 9. The cruclble is adapted to be movedtoward and from the mold, and when it is moved into pouring position, asindicated in Fig. 5, a guide band 18 on the carrier fits over the end ofthe mold and retains the mold and carrier in proper relative position.

The slidable carrier is provided with a flange 19 which is perforatedfor the reception of an adjusting bar 20. This bar is provided with ahandle 21 and is secured to the flange 19 by a nut 22. It will beapparent that by manipulating the handle 21 and slide bar 20, thecrucible may be moved toward or away from the mold, and the crucible isheld in adjusted positionby means of a set screw 23 in one leg of theblock 5, which screw engages the slide bar 20 as shown in Fig. 5.

The arm 9 with its carrier and mold is used to turn the shaft 4 and windup the operating motor, and after the motor has been wound, the rotatinparts are retained against rotary movement by means 'of a lunger 24which is slidable in bearings 25 o the motor casing 3. This plunger hasa flanged head 26 which projects outwardly from the casing in the pathof the screw bar 6, as indicated in Fig. 4, and the flanged headprevents the rotation of the mold and crucible carrier when these partsare engaged. To'release the rotating parts of the casting machine, the

plunger 24 is pushed-to the left in Fig. 4 against the tension of aspring 27 that is interposed between a shoulder 28 on the plunger 24 andthe inner face of a'wall of the casing 3. The plunger is thus pressedout of the path of movement of the arm 6 and held in that position,while the arm!) with its load is rotating with the shaft 4and block 5.

Thus it will be apparent that after the torch has been applied to themetal-.or gold G in the crucible and the metal has been melted, therotary parts are released and the rotation of the mold and crucible,through centrifugal action, causes the molten metal to be poured fromthe spout 16 through the sprue and into'the cavity 1.4 of the mold. InFig.

' 5, it will be seen that the metal from the spout 16 enters the mold ina line which radiates directly from the center of the shaft 4, thusinsuring the flow and maximum effect of the centrifugal action whichresults in a compact casting in the cavity 14. I i

The motor for o erating the machine is illustrated as a spring 29' whichis secured at its outer end by a screw 30 to the casing 3, and at'itsinner end the spring is secured to a sleeve 31by means of a knob 32 onthe sleeve. The ratchet device for-the shaft 4 is enclosed within thehousing 3 and includes a disk 33 in the form of a winding head securedon the shaft 4, and the head is recessed to accommodate a spring ressedplunger 34 which is urged outwardly 0y spring 35. The head is encased bya hollow head 36 forming part of the sleeve 31, and this hollow'head isfashioned with a cam edge 37 and an abrupt shoulder 38, these partsbeing fashioned at the opening for the plunger 34. In'Fig. 6, it willbeapparent that as the shaft 4 and head 33 turn clockwise, the plunger 34will be retracted, and the head and'shaft will turn in the hollow head36, for the purpose of winding up the motor spring 29.- When the motoris to be operated for the purpose of rotating the casting machine, theshoulder 38 proper performance of their functions, and

due to the simplicity in construction and operation of the machine theparts may beadjusted and operated with convenience and accuracy. i

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent iS- 1. The combination with a motor shaftand operating means therefor, of a block secured on the shaft and acounterbalance for the shaft, an arm carried by the block and a moldfixed at the free end of the arm, an adjustable carrier on the arm, anda crucible supported on said carrier.

2. The combination in a centrifugal casting machine with a rotary shaftand block,

and an arm secured to theblock, of a mold fixed at the freeend of thearm, a carrier slidable on the arm, means for securing the carrier inadjusted position on the arm, and a crucible supported in the carrier.

3. The combination in a rotary casting ma chine with it shaft, a block,and supporting arm, of a mold secured at the end of the arm. a carrierslidable on the arm and a guide band on the carrier adapted to engagethe mold, a crucible in the carrier, and means connecting the carrierand block whereby the carrier may be secured in adjusted position.

4. In a centrifugal casting machine, the combination with a motor shaft,a block thereon, and an arm secured to the block, of a mold secured onthe arm, a carrier slidable on the arm, a crucible supported in thecarrier having a spout adapted for insertion in the sprue of the mold, ajoint band on the carrier for engagement with themold, a slide barsecured to the carrier and supported in the block, and a set screw inthe block for securing said slide bar.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature CHESTER P. SHOUDY.

